“harm local economies that depend on outdoor recreation”
The comment
The Forest Service should keep the Roadless Rule intact exactly as it is, utilizing Alternative 1 in the current DEIS. Your intent to rescind the Roadless Rule is deeply concerning.
Roadless areas provide important benefits to communities across the country. We rely on them for clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, and protection from the impacts of development. These lands are also an important part of the character and identity of many communities and provide places for people to hike, hunt, fish, camp, ski and otherwise enjoy the outdoors.
Of particular concern to me is that rescinding the Roadless Rule would increase development, reduce recreation opportunities, affect wildlife habitat, increase wildfire risk, and harm local economies that depend on outdoor recreation.
The Roadless Rule has provided consistent, nationwide protections for these special places for decades. The Forest Service should not weaken those protections or open currently protected roadless lands to new development. I urge the Forest Service to pursue Alternative 1 and retain the existing Roadless Rule protections.
Sincerely,
R.S. Tracy
4545 St George Rd Williston, VT 05495-7685
rtracyjr@sover.net